Stroger Hospital & Campus Mission-Critical IT Services

Secure Data Communications Network for Cook County Health’s Leading Healthcare and Mixed-Use Community Center

As the flagship of Cook County Health, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital serves as the hub of specialty and sub-specialty care for the 3rd largest county in the nation. Since opening in 2002, it has become one of the busiest and most well-respected Level 1 trauma centers in the US, with an ER that treats approximately 120,000 patients annually.

During the massive undertaking of building Stroger Hospital on the site of the 150-year-old former Cook County Hospital, Level-1 was a newly formed entity tasked with correcting the incomplete work of a minority contractor that went out of business right after 9/11.

Level-1’s first major delivery of services included a full network design and supervising the set-up to connect the new hospital to existing healthcare facilities and the design and development of 39 communication closets and a data center technology warehouse. Built to last, this main data center still serves all data communications across Stroger’s campus and throughout the entire Cook County Health & Hospital System today.

With mission-critical data communications infrastructure in mind, Level-1 equipped the Stroger Data Center with state-of-the-art power and environmental systems protection that ensures reliable operation even in cases of component failure. A separate electrical system was designed to support off-grid operations during an emergency so that network systems and the databases they support can remain online even during power outages.

The Stroger Hospital Network features single and multimode fiber-optic distribution via a redesigned cable plant. Electrical systems include conditioned power, battery backup, high-frequency grounding and electrical distribution, and static and automated transfer switching systems.

Level-1 managed all aspects of the technology infrastructure system data center design and construction from planning to implementation. This included cable plant and distribution frame construction, structured wiring specifications, fiber-optic, overhead and underfloor cable plans, electrical systems and back-ups, and environmental systems. Level-1 also coordinated with medical, electrical, and plumbing contractors to ensure compliance with relevant building codes.

In addition to creating this system, Level-1 also corrected serious issues from a prior design, including the upgrading of standard industry practices to protect power supplies, network equipment, and cables against natural and man-made disasters.  Most notably, Level-1’s engineers were a critical part of the solution to relocate highly-sensitive MRI equipment to accommodate the new data center and insulated the sensitive medical imaging equipment against the vibrations of the nearby green line ‘L’ station.

Supported by Level-1’s high-quality infrastructure, today Stroger Hospital maintains a strong commitment to the healthcare needs of Cook County’s underserved population, while also remaining at the forefront of new therapies and innovations in healthcare and offering a full range of specialized medical services for all segments of the community.

As part of their investment in modernizing services for patients and leading innovative technology and research, in 2007 Cook County Health redeveloped prime real estate within John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital’s Campus as a mixed-use retail, residential, office, medical services, research, education, health & wellness, entertainment and community center.

During the redevelopment, Cook County Health again entrusted Level-1 to provide mission-critical IT services, including telecommunications infrastructure and low voltage design and implementation. Level-1 also delivered smart infrastructure services such as integrated voice, data, video, A/V, security systems, and building automation systems.

Backed by Level-1’s IT infrastructure, the Stroger Campus now thrives within the Illinois Medical District as a vibrant urban neighborhood and active part of the community.

Location

Chicago

Markets

Commercial Real Estate
Education & Research
Entertainment, Hospitality & Culture
Government
Healthcare
Mission Critical

Services

Technical Services
Engineering (Design)